Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 195

Chapter 55

ALLISON’S POV

I feel someone following me and when I sneak a glance back, it’s Justin. The determined look on his face

says he’s not letting this go, and for a split second, my heart does something stupid. Then his words from

that night echo in my head and the feeling disappears just as fast.

I pick up my pace, my gaze darting around for an escape, because I already know he’ll follow me anywhere. The look on his face makes that painfully clear.

No one in the hallway is giving the right vibe or looks like someone I can use as a quick distraction, so I

duck into the nearest empty room and swing the door shut. A foot shoots into the gap at the last second,

stopping it.

Obviously, it’s Justin so I shove back hard, fully intent on slamming the door right in his face.

“Allison, stop fighting me.” He keeps the door from closing with his hand and I hate how easy it is for him, how obvious it is that the only reason he hasn’t forced his way in is because he’s choosing not to. “Just let

me in.”

“Go away,” I snap. “Piss off.”

“You know you don’t want that.” He says like he’s stating a simple fact and my teeth grind together.

“You don’t know shit about me,” I force what’s left of my strength into the door. “If you did, you wouldn’t be

such a damn asshole.”

Yeah. Real convincing, Allison.

Because the truth is, if I actually wanted him gone, I wouldn’t still be standing here, shoving uselessly at a door he could open with two fingers. I wouldn’t care that he followed me. I wouldn’t care that he’s right

outside.

I want to talk about that night. About the things he said. About the way he ripped my heart out and made

me feel small like I was nothing to him.

“Allison, we can talk about it,” he says. “But you’ve got to let me in. Please.”

I hesitate, my pulse hammering in my ears. Every sane part of me screams to keep trying to slam the door shut, but another part, the part that’s desperate to hear that the person I trust doesn’t see me as the version he tore me down into days ago, won’t let me move.

With a sigh, I finally step back and let the door go. Then Justin eases it open, our eyes locking, my chest rising and falling like I just ran a marathon.

For a beat, neither of us says anything. Then he steps in, shutting the door behind him, and my stomach does that weird, twisting flip. Get a grip, Allie. Sure, he’s hot but he’s also a jerk. A jerk who doesn’t trust

you enough to share anything, a jerk who made you feel like a fool.

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“Go straight to the point or leave,” I mutter, shifting my weight on one foot.

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He tilts his head, and I swear my brain short-circuits for a second. Absence making the heart grow fonder or not, this man is irresistible. All black shirt, and pants somehow makes him look even more mysterious, more…dominant. But no. Not now, not here. Admiration is off the table.

He steps closer and I mirror him, refusing to back down tonight.

“You ran off past midnight,” he says, his voice low. “You could’ve gotten hurt.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “What do you care? And don’t even try to dodge the real reason you’re here.”

He leans in closer, his breath hot and minty brushing my face. “You made it super obvious to Jessica that we were having issues,” he continues. “And you told the bartender down there… everything. So tell me, Allison, how exactly am I supposed to trust you?”

I bite back a laugh that comes out more like a twitch of my lips, and I shove his chest, only that he doesn’t

even budge. “Fuck off if you’re not here to apologize. This is a waste of my time.”

I try to sidestep him, but he grabs my hand before I can. I grunt, tugging hard, and trying to yank it free.

“Can’t you just let this go?” he asks.

“No.” I try to get my hand free. “Let go of me.”

Instead, he pulls me closer, and I tilt my head up to meet his eyes. “I have my reasons, Allison.”

Why won’t he just tell me? I’ve already seen the texts. I know he’s being blackmailed so what could be

worse than that? He’s not some undercover FBI agent or anything. So why keep me out of it?

I square my shoulders. “If you really liked me or like me, it shouldn’t be this hard.”

Stepping back, I glare at him. He sighs, running a hand through his hair like he’s carrying the weight of the

world.

“That’s exactly why it’s so hard,” he whispers. Another sigh escapes him before he finally nods. “Fine… I’ll tell you.”

My heart lurches, thumping so hard I feel it in my throat and sweat prickles across my skin before I even know it. He catches my anxious look and grimaces like he can’t stand it and maybe me but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s finally going to tell me if he’s done something unacceptable or if he needs help. I really think it’s the latter,

“I’m listening,” I press, seconds stretching as we stand in the dimly lit room. It could probably be full of rats for all I know, but I don’t care…I just need him to talk.

He shoves a hand into his pocket, letting out a long exhale, probably the tenth in the last minute. “I didn’t… beat anyone or kill anyone,” he says, and I can tell he’s reacting to my accusations. “I needed money.”

I step a little closer. “Money?”

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He nods, his eyes dropping for a second. “Beginning of last semester… Katy was sick, remember?”

“Yeah…” I mutter.

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“And then… she needed money for projects, and… everything just piled up on me. I got desperate.” He licks his lips. “I met with someone I used to know and he told me about Black. Said he gave loans, low interest, no questions asked… cool guy. I went because I didn’t know what else to do. But when I met Black, he wasn’t giving loans anymore. He… he had a different kind of gig.”

“No.” I whisper, already dreading where this is heading.

“Well… he was talking about drugs.” He swallows, running a hand through his hair. “Said I just had to be the middleman, and get it delivered to certain people. I didn’t want to do it… but I was desperate. I was already owing Cooper and a few other guys so saying no… it wasn’t really an option.”

His eyes darken, and I catch the anger rolling through him. “Black… he gave me the stuff, and I didn’t know he’d had his guys snapping photos, recording me, all of it. Instead of paying me, he started blackmailing

me.”

My shoulders slump, chest tight, like I’m carrying all the anger and shame in the world at once. I can’t even form words because there’s too much raw emotion crowding my thoughts, too many things I want to say but can’t decide which to start with. And the guilt… God, the guilt burns the most. I accused him of being some violent asshole, a bully, when all he was doing was trying to keep Katy afloat, to pay her bills, and keep her in school. And all I could think about was accusing him of something monstrous. Why did I do

that?

“It’s been a couple months now,” he continues, his voice calm but tense. “He’s got photos of me moving the stuff but there’s basically no proof connecting me to him so he’s clean. I’m the one with everything to lose…my scholarship, hockey, my future. That’s why it’s crucial nobody finds out. And that’s why I couldn’t

tell you. I was… embarrassed.”

I force out a shaky breath, staring at my feet as my thoughts jumble and spin. When I finally lift my gaze, all I want is to wrap my arms should him. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything,” he replies. “I’m the one who trusted a shady guy and-”

“That wasn’t your fault,” I cut in, the anger I’ve been bottling up surfacing. “Anyone in your shoes would have done the same. That asshole, that criminal…he’s the one who needs to be dealt with, not you.”

He shakes his head, placing both hands gently on my shoulders. “Don’t think about that. Just… forget I told you and let time pass. Soon enough, college will be over and none of this will matter.”

“Is that it?” I tilt my head. “When you found out Sean had those pictures of me, you flipped and did everything to protect me, and scare him off. So why are you laying low for this Black dude? He’s taking more and more every week…”

“It’s different. He’s not someone-”

“He’s extorting you!” I cut in, my gaze locking onto his. “Do you even realize he could leak those images

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right before graduation? Or get pissed one day and show your coach? Have you even thought about that? I pieced together just from reading a few of his texts that this guy is a total psycho.”

“He’s not..” he hesitates. “There’s nothing I can do, alright? He could have backups and I don’t even think I’m the only one he’s doing this to. If others haven’t found a way, why should I try and risk everything?”

“There’s definitely a way.” I grind out. “I bet if you tell your teammates, they will figure it out.”

“No.” he snaps, then tightens his grip on my shoulders, his eyes pleading. “Promise me Allison that on no account will you tell anyone about this. Especially my teammates.”

“Justin, this…”

“Promise me.” He interrupts. “You won’t say anything to anyone or try to figure it out.”

I bite my lip, staring at him. It’s not saying the words that’s hard, it’s keeping them. Sitting here, doing nothing while someone holds the power to ruin his life? That’s not exactly what I can easily forget. But for now… I have to play by his rules.

I nod slowly. “I promise.”

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